Wildcats Draft Profiles: Skylar Thompson is Kansas State’s best draft bet

The Kansas State Wildcats do not have a standout prospect in the coming 2022 NFL Draft. While several players have late-round grades, quarterback Skylar Thompson is one to watch.

Quarterback Skylar Thompson has had one of the more memorable tenures as a Kansas State Wildcat. He joined the program in 2016 and saw his final snap come in 2022. Sure, the COVID-19 pandemic extended his time at the school, but Kansas State fans were more than happy to welcome him back. He capped off his time with a memorable performance in the TaxAct Texas Bowl, leading the Wildcats to victory over the LSU Tigers and earning himself MVP honors.

But, not every college career can last forever. Thompson will be 25 before the next NFL season, making him much older than many of his draft-prospect colleagues. But, he certainly left his mark on the Wildcats. His 40 starts and 24 career wins as a starting quarterback are the most among all Kansas State quarterbacks since at least 1990. Also, he is the only player in school history with 6,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a career. Kansas State is known for dual-threat quarterbacking, including school greats Collin Klein and Michael Bishop, but Thompson stood above both in many marks.

Similar to the Wildcats moving on to transfer quarterback Adrian Martinez, Thompson had to move on. He logically started testing the draft waters following the 2021 season. He and defensive back Russ Yeast competed against each other in the 97th East-West Shrine Bowl. Thompson came in for the West squad after halftime and threw a touchdown pass and a beautiful fade pass for the 2-pt conversion on his opening drive. He then led West down for the game-winning score later in the game.

All in all, Thompson ended the game with 6-of-9 passing for 76 yards and a touchdown along with three rushes for eight yards in a 25-24 victory by his West squad.

Thompson’s standout performance was just the boost his draft stock needed. He is currently one of only 15 quarterbacks invited to this year’s NFL Scouting Combine. The combine, held in Indianapolis from March 1-7, is the best pre-draft prospect showcase. Getting invited alone is a stamp of approval, while a good combine performance elevates one’s draft stock drastically.

With that said, Thompson is the only Kansas State player invited to the combine. That alone tells how shallow this year’s Kansas State draft prospect pool is. NFL Draft Buzz has only five Wildcats rated as draft prospects. They are:

• Skylar Thompson, QB, Kansas State
• Josh Rivas, OL, Kansas State
• Khalid Duke, DE, Kansas State
• Nick Lenners, TE, Kansas State
• Russ Yeast, DB, Kansas State

Out of that list, Thompson is the one who stands out, by far. How could Thompson translate to the next level, drafted or not?

Strengths

Thompson was a known dual-threat quarterback at the college level, something that will translate well to the next level. While he is not a game-changer athletically, he is able to pick up rushing yards or extend the play.

In 2019, Thompson was fourth in the Big 12 Conference with 11 rushing touchdowns, while he had 26 total rushing touchdowns in his career. His injury history limited his rushing attempts in 2020 and 2021, but Thompson can still move.

Next, Thompson has the arm strength for quick throws in the short and medium passing game. He leads receivers to open pockets in zone coverage, recognizing placement during the play. In 2019’s thrilling upset over the Oklahoma Sooners, Thompson had a masterful game. One play that stands out is a 2nd & 17 conversion throw to tight end Sammy Wheeler, where Thompson fit the ball between three defenders on the boundary. Those are the types of throws NFL-level quarterbacks make, and Thompson made it.

Lastly, Thompson is incredibly accurate considering his dual-threat status. He holds Kansas State’s record for lowest interception percentage and is third in completion percentage. Thompson has always exhibited comfort and poise in the pocket, no matter the quality of the offensive line. That leads to better-developed plays and better throws most of the time. Thompson would be a good scheme quarterback, where route combinations make up methodical drives.

Weaknesses

Now, despite his strengths, there are many reasons why Thompson is not an elite quarterback prospect.

First, Thompson has a lengthy injury history, with a season-ending injury in 2020 and multiple injuries in 2021. He was able to play through some in his last season, but reliability is the best ability. A combine physical may put teams’ concerns to bed, but those injuries still loom large.

Next, Thompson has very limited measurables. While he was amongst the taller quarterbacks at the Shrine Bowl, Thompson had the smallest hand size of the group. The ideal quarterback has at least a 9.5 inches hand span, while Thompson was more than an inch smaller. An inch maybe his biggest detriment,  contributing to less ball grip at the next level.

Lastly, Thompson has issues with pre-snap reads. While he can create after the snap, Thompson can be fooled at the line of scrimmage or he will not change the play. Blitzes were especially effective at points, something that every NFL defensive coordinator will take advantage of.

Final Verdict

Thompson has a limited pool of teams where he fits. His ceiling is very low, both as a rookie and in an NFL career overall. However, he does have a good foundation and all his weaknesses, except for hand strength, can be improved upon.

Arm strength is everything in the modern NFL, something that Thompson only has adequately. That and his hand size are his biggest drawbacks, while mobility is currently Thompson’s biggest positive.

He is a Kansas State fan favorite and one of the school’s most productive quarterbacks. However, Thompson is far from a sure thing for any NFL team. Several factors, including need, scheme fit, and intangibles, would need to go Thompson’s way for a team to draft him. Not saying he is a bad player by any means, but he is not a great prospect.

Thompson has been a great ambassador for the Wildcats, but he has a 50/50 shot of getting drafted. Whether it is via the draft or as an undrafted free agent, Thompson deserves nothing but the best. If his best days of football are behind him, he gave everything for Kansas State and left thousands of fans with unforgettable moments.